The NICU Sucker Punch
Intensive Care Unit.
Those three words give pause to anyone who hears them in relation to the status of someone they know.
It indicates a tightrope walk between life and death many times and it's seriousness is not over-stated.
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Just one little word changes perception.
Scary?
Certainly.
Teetering?
Sometimes.
Long-term?
Often.
Babies?
So fragile but darling...can I touch, hold, visit?
Stable?
For weeks, even months.
Sucker Punched?
Yep, out of left field the world turns upside down quicker than you can say bradycardia.
In the NICU we can get lulled into a status quo that makes those sudden turns breathtaking.
It shouldn't be unexpected, it's an ICU after all.
But somehow, when we do what we do well, we aren't prepared to have our skills fail us.
We aren't braced for the hit.
And the sucker-punch reality of the NICU hits again with a staggering blow.
Stunned?
Yes.
Disbelief?
For sure.
What did I miss?
Over and over.
Heartache?
Intensely.
Grief?
In rolling waves.
The job and desire of every NICU RN, Doctor, NNP, RCP, Pharmacist is to prevent, anticipate and react to the tragedies that knock on our door every day.
Most days when we offer our best, the outcome is reflective.
Sometimes, however, we are sucker-punched and with aching hearts and pounding heads we walk out those hospital doors with tears streaming down our faces.
Tears for the precious parents who's world has been irrevocably assaulted with the devastating loss of their perfect babe.
Tears for the siblings that will never see the smiles or get to play with their brother or sister.
Tears for the grandparents who want to turn back time and make it all go away.
Tears for the doctors, practioners, pharmacist and respiratory care providers who gave intensely and it still wasn't enough.
Tears for the nurses who brought their skill and love and became undeniably attached.
And tomorrow?
We get back on our feet, walk back into that unit and start again.
With a smile and determination we greet another family and give our skill and our hearts to their babies.
Because we work in the NICU for one reason: to get every baby home to their loving families where they belong.
Those three words give pause to anyone who hears them in relation to the status of someone they know.
It indicates a tightrope walk between life and death many times and it's seriousness is not over-stated.
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Just one little word changes perception.
Scary?
Certainly.
Teetering?
Sometimes.
Long-term?
Often.
Babies?
So fragile but darling...can I touch, hold, visit?
Stable?
For weeks, even months.
Sucker Punched?
Yep, out of left field the world turns upside down quicker than you can say bradycardia.
In the NICU we can get lulled into a status quo that makes those sudden turns breathtaking.
It shouldn't be unexpected, it's an ICU after all.
But somehow, when we do what we do well, we aren't prepared to have our skills fail us.
We aren't braced for the hit.
And the sucker-punch reality of the NICU hits again with a staggering blow.
Stunned?
Yes.
Disbelief?
For sure.
What did I miss?
Over and over.
Heartache?
Intensely.
Grief?
In rolling waves.
The job and desire of every NICU RN, Doctor, NNP, RCP, Pharmacist is to prevent, anticipate and react to the tragedies that knock on our door every day.
Most days when we offer our best, the outcome is reflective.
Sometimes, however, we are sucker-punched and with aching hearts and pounding heads we walk out those hospital doors with tears streaming down our faces.
Tears for the precious parents who's world has been irrevocably assaulted with the devastating loss of their perfect babe.
Tears for the siblings that will never see the smiles or get to play with their brother or sister.
Tears for the grandparents who want to turn back time and make it all go away.
Tears for the doctors, practioners, pharmacist and respiratory care providers who gave intensely and it still wasn't enough.
Tears for the nurses who brought their skill and love and became undeniably attached.
And tomorrow?
We get back on our feet, walk back into that unit and start again.
With a smile and determination we greet another family and give our skill and our hearts to their babies.
Because we work in the NICU for one reason: to get every baby home to their loving families where they belong.
Comments
Post a Comment